Thursday, March 18, 2010

Wonderful news

I'm finally going to share something I've wanted to tell for a while: we are expecting our second baby! I'm about 18 weeks along, at least officially (personally I'm inclined to believe it's a little less) – yes, we've actually kept it quiet for this long, though no doubt some of you have been wondering/guessing for a while now.

I'm due sometime around mid-August (though, again, I won't be surprised if it's actually closer to the end of August). The little ones will be about 20 months apart. I've got a feeling this little love is going to be a girl as well – can't tell exactly why. Soon enough I'm supposed to do an ultrasound scan and then we'll know for sure. I'll keep you updated.

I have been feeling much better this time around, during my first trimester – though I've still experienced quite a bit of fatigue and the occasional near-fainting episode. Of course, having to take a job outside the home during that period didn't make things any easier. So essentially, those of you who said it wasn't normal to feel this tired, and expressed concern for my health, were right – had I felt quite so exhausted without knowing I'm pregnant, I would surely see a doctor about it.

I'm happier than ever to be back home at this time – there's so much to do in the months we have left until the baby is born. And it worked out so wonderfully well, that the opportunity to come home was just when there was a quiet period at work, so it wasn't at all as though I let down the wonderful people I was working with (something I didn't want to do, regardless of the knowledge that my commitment, of course, was first and foremost to my family). But as it happens, I was able to leave on very good, friendly terms, and even received a lovely thank-you letter a few days ago, along with a call from a dear friend I made at work, a far older and more experienced mother of five. I was so thankful.

Anyway, now that the first trimester is behind me, I'm feeling wonderfully well again. I've finally managed to put a bit of weight on, and I'm full of energy (which is very good, considering how much there is to do before Pesach). I'm already showing quite a bit, perhaps I'll share some pictures soon. I've switched almost entirely to maternity clothes, rather than continue squeezing into my normal ones. I've also started feeling some movements this week – very slight ones, as it's still early on (and, as I said, I think it's even earlier on than I'm "supposed" to be).

We only told family a few days ago, and… well, I don't want to spoil the happy spirit of this post. It's enough that we are thrilled about having another child soon. What a blessing it will be for us all. Another little baby to cuddle and love. Another sweet darling to hold at my breast and nurse. For Shira, a sibling to be best friends with, to love and play and be a protective big sister to. Yes, we are so excited. I can't wait. God is so good.

Well, I only meant to post a short little note to share our thrilling news, and here I am, rambling on and on. I'd better stop for now, but I will surely write an update soon.

134 comments:

Congrats!! I'm so excited for you! I can't believe you were able to keep it hush-hush this long! I couldn't. I was so sick I had to tell people because I needed help just doing every day things. Then, I started showing fairly early, too.

Yay, Anna, what wonderful news! What a coincidence -- I only just yesterday announced that we are pregnant, too! You're quite a bit farther along, though -- I've never been good at keeping secrets, and I'm not due until November. ;)

I know what you mean about telling family, but you are absolutely right that it is enough that you are happy. And we will all be thrilled for you!

Congratulations, Anna! What happy news. I'm looking forward to reading more about your new little darling. And how incredibly fortunate that you were able to return home at this time. I hope & pray that you have a healthy pregnancy & labor and that your child is the picture of health.

Congratulations! What a great gift for Shira- a playmate already. I am 11 weeks along with our second. Our little girl will be 21 months old when the baby is born in October. We are also very excited. Don't worry about your family. I know my husband's family will be less than enthusiastic. It's your family and your baby and always a blessing from God, no matter if others can see that or not.

(And I'm also glad that I had my 20-week ultrasound yesterday and that it showed that our baby--our first--seems to be healthy. Otherwise I'm the worrier type who'd start thinking something is wrong because I can still wear many of my normal clothes and haven't felt any movement yet. But then, both of those things may just be because I'm already overweight and therefore shouldn't gain as much weight as other pregnant women and also have more ... interference ... when it comes to feeling our daughter's movements.)

Congratulations Anna & Family! God bless you all with a safe, happy & healthy pregnancy. My husband and I would be open to another blessing as soon as God will it. (Our little one will be turning 1 next month.)

Oh Anna! I am so excited and happy for you! My son and his soon-to-be-here little brother will be 18 months apart. I have hoped for you to get pregnant again, and here it is! You did wait a while to tell...but that's perfectly alright! I can't tell you how excited I am for you. Congratulations! PS-I am due May 12th.

Congratulations!! I hope you are not running out of Irish names yet :o))

Pester,

Yes, we're still nursing, though it seems Shira is now on the path to self-weaning.

Rose,

I've had an earlier ultrasound, and it's definitely just ONE baby. :o) I was showing early last time as well, because I'm normally so thin. That's why I'm amazed no one in the family noticed anything until the last two weeks or so.

Congratulations! I am so happy for your family. G-d truly has blessed your family.Looking forward to "walking" with you through another pregnancy. It is so thrilling when a little miracle comes into this world.

Congratulations to you and your family! As a child in a family of nine children, and a mother of five, I can tell you sincerely that the best gift a parent can give a child is brothers and sisters. I'm sure that Shira and her new sibling will be the best of friends!

congratulations!! i've been reading your blog for awhile now and love it. i am actually on your blog to grab your tuna fritters recipe..going to make that for lunch when i saw your post! i'm also two weeks behind you and due sept 3rd. congrats and happy pregnancy!!! =)

Congratulations, Anna!You and your dear husband must be so excited!And how wonderful for Shira to have a sibling and playmate. My sister is younger than me by 16 months to the day and we have always been incredibly close. Please continue to update us.I am so excited for you.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!! I don't write in the comments often, but I follow your blog with interest, and I am so excited for you and your family that you are expecting your second dear child.

I take it from your post that your family was not as thrilled - I just wanted to share that I know well what that pain is like. We have 3 little ones, and they are only 14 and 17 months apart, respectively (and we just learned our 4th is on the way, which will only be 15 months apart from the 3rd!). They are close, to be sure, but sadly our family and friends have almost unanimously questioned and discouraged us in this, rather than rejoice with us in the blessings God has chosen to give us so quickly together.

May God encourage your heart, and know that there are many like-minded women out here like me who rejoice with you!!

I am sorry that your family's response was not everything you would have liked it to be, but you have had to deal with this sort of thing before, and things have worked out. I expect concern only is at the bottom of it, even if it is unnecessary.

The main thing is that you and your husband are in agreement over this happy event. :)

Oh Anna, how wonderful! I'm so excited for you, what truly great news! (Can you tell I'm really happy for you?)I had been hoping to read this for an while as you always made it clear you were hoping for many children. I do dope this pregnancy will go easy for you, and can't wait to see pictures (if you feel like posting any).I was an only child with an "old" mother, and have always felt it would be lovely to have a young mother, and siblings to go through life with. THis is a blessing I will never know (although I'm aware that many people who do have siblings will beg to differ on the "blessing" part, lol).

Is it terribly smart-alecky of me to say that I guessed this too? lol! It was when you said that a new and welcome change in your situation allowed you to return home that I felt more certain-- now, I am not sure if it was the baby to which you were referring, there, but that was the first thing that popped into my head.

I am SO very happy for your family, Anna! I offer my warmest of congratulations to all FOUR of you!

How wonderful! :) 20 months apart is a wonderful spacing. My middle child and my youngest is 20 months apart, and she SO enjoyed being a big sister. She was also a lot of help! Same with her older sister. :) Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord. Glad you are feeling well.

I've been following your blog for a little while now and enjoy your posts so much. I was pleasantly surprised to see a "baby timeline" at the top and smiled as I read your entry. Congratulations and blessings to you and yours! Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with us!

Woo hoo! I'm due with my third little blessing the beginning of August. How fun is that!If Shira dosn't totally wean before the baby comes, it is perfectly fine to nurse throughout pregnancy (if, of course, you aren't at risk for pre-term labor and are eating and drinking plenty) and tandem nurse the two together. I did this with my first two (17 mos apart) It was nice getting to put my feet up and snuggle with both my babies!

Congratulations Anna!!! I got a whiff of something like this in your spring-time post and I thought "hmmm... I wonder". SO exciting!! And 18 weeks... wow!! How cool!! I've heard women start feeling it sooner, and showing sooner with their second. Congrats! Happy to be pregnant "with" you too :) How fun!

Congratulations, dear! My family is not overly thrilled with our announcements anymore, either (we have five--pregnancy #4 was a surprise blessing of twins, not discovered til I went for my first u/s at 21 wks).

Dear Anna, many congratulations to you and your family. Every child is a gift and a blessing. I have two little boys and the way they love each other is priceless. I wish you much happiness and a healthy pregnancy!

Many congratulations, Anna!! Don't let the rest of your family get you down.

I'm due with my third baby in May, and my daughter will be around 22 months then. She surprised me by nearly self-weaning also - her brother never slowed down during my pregnancy at all. She is still nursing for a few minutes every few mornings, but that is all. As young as she is, I'm hoping she'll keep it until the next little one arrives because I would like for her to get some mommy milk once a day or so - especially since she's still so tiny (in spite of a voracious appetite!).

On showing: There are a few things to take into consideration. How thin you are may have less to do with it than where you carry. I've always carried front and center, so I show early. Subsequent babies also show much sooner than the first, because the muscles involved in holding it in will never be what they were. Movements are also felt sooner with subsequent babies. That's all normal. :)

I think I remember you saying when you first announced your pregnancy with Shara that in Jewish culture it is traditional to wait until after the first trimester to announce the pregnancy...? Am I remembering that correctly? If you do not wear really tight, form fitting clothing (and I am pretty sure you do not!), then the slight bulge of a new blessing-being-knit-in-your-womb would/could easily go unnoticed, even among family!

On future days when the family is still less-than-enthusiastic about your pregnancy, come read all these POSITIVE POSTS for encouragement. Unfortunately, most people in society today do not view children as blessings. And they start to try to scare you with some horror story about someone they heard about. So far I have not ever heard a horror story about someone they actually knew firsthand. And even so, closely spaced children are a blessing to behold! Hmm, didn't I post about that previously ? :)

Despite your preparations for your upcoming holiday, make sure you get plenty of rest! Those sleepless nights will be here again before you know it! I wish I was near-by, I'd come help!!Blessings,~Mrs. R

Congratulations! I was thinking you might be pregnant again. My two wee ones are going to be about 22 months apart (I am due on Sunday) I think that is great spacing and your two wee ones will be great friends and siblings too. Congrats and blessings again!!!!

Dear friends, thank you. I'd like to respond to some questions but time just doesn't allow right now. I just wanted to say blogger has some sort of glitch and "refuses" to publish some of the comments, so if you commented and it doesn't appear here, know that's the reason!

Dearest Anna, congratulations to you and your husband, what a wonderful blessing. Yes I had suspected something for a while and thought that it must have been very tiering to be working outside the home (especially during the first trimester) so I am especially glad for you that you are home now. A friend who has 4 children was "worried" that there was such a "large" gap between her 2nd and 3rd - there are 20 months between them! - when they are fairly close together they often are great friends to each other.

Congratulations! We are expecting #4 in early October. I have no idea what people actually have said about another child (Gideon will be 2 right at the due date), but we honestly do not care. Children are such a blessing and a wonderful gift from G-d (even when they make me crazy, lol). I am so excited for you and little Shira!

Congratulations, Anna, to you and your precious family on the coming blessing! We are expecting our sixth (or 7th, depending on how you look at things since we are foster parents) and it is not viewed by many as a blessing here, but we are THRILLED! All of our children are 17mos.- 2.5 yrs apart and we love how close they are. They are each other's best of friends.Blessings,Hannah

Only concern is why say it is a girl if you are not sure. Especially since you just had a girl.

I hope you do want a son one day.

One of the problems in so called religious Judaism is there is a shortage of men. Sadly the religious world doesn't care. They don't need enemies to curse them. They don't seem to mind. Although it could be for 2 reasons A. MOre boys are leaving or B. More girls are being born then boys. I would suspect it is A but either way the fact that communities are not bothered by this speaks volumes.If it is B that is even more disturbing as the overall ratio of men to women under 18 is very close to 50-50 so why among Jews do have women not giving birth to boys. Women can't even get married if they aren't enough boys and have a man support them and can't be there to protect the Jewish people either.

As the issue with feminism is always about hating men.

In my family I have someone who has 8 girls, 1 boy I am not very close with them and the type of living the husband makes is actually working for the government helping Mexicans get government services (I'm sure many unmarried women with children) and they don't want boys. They want more girls. The only son doesn't want a brother. It is terrible. Which is why I am not really close with them. But anyway congrats.

I was wondering when you'd announce this ;-) I had to keep my lips sealed, and now I can finally say for all the World Wide Web to hear: CONGRATULATIONS, ANNA AND YITZHAK! So very exciting. My two are just under 22 months apart, and I thought it was the most perfect spacing God could have granted. I am so very, very happy for you--and as you know, I could do with this big smile right now! Much love, dear! Stay healthy. I'll be praying for you.

Congratulations! I am also due the end of August, but this will be my third. I have two girls 2 and 1 and I just can't wait to see if this one will be a girl too! Blessings to you and your growing family!

Congratulations, Anna! Don't let any of the nay-sayers get to you- my sister and I are 18 months apart, and having a sibling that close is the best present my parents and God have ever given me! It's definitely tough for a while (as in, poor Mommy had her hands full!) but the blessings to your children will be so worthwhile!

Tip if you want one: when my sister was born, my Mom brought home a waterproof babydoll from the hospital along with my sister. That way when Mom was feeding, bathing, or changing my sister, I could do the same with my babydoll, and it felt like Mom and I were a team, as opposed to "the baby getting all the attention", etc.

But in any case.... congratulations! Your growing family will be in my prayers!

I hadn't been on in a while, and am just thrilled to log on to see such happy news!!!

My two little boys are 14 months apart, and it was a blessing. As soon as the older one grew out of something, it went right to the little one! To this day, they are very close (at 12 and 11 years old), have the same friends, most of the same interests, share the same room, and I pray they will be best friends for life. Congratulations again!

Actually when I was speaking about the situation that enables me to be back home now, I did not refer to the pregnancy - however, of course I would stay home after having this baby anyway, because there's no way I would give up nursing unless we were actually dependent on me so as not to starve.

Maria,

We have been toying around with some names, but our experience from last time teaches us that we can't really know until the baby is born. Our Shira was supposed to have a different name, after my mother-in-law, but when she was born, we simply felt that her name, however wonderful, does not suit our daughter, and had to think of a different name.

Adam,

Of course we would dearly love to have a son. As a matter of fact we would love to have several sons *and* daughters.

It just seemed to me, theoretically, that having two girls, and then two boys, would mean that the two pairs of girls and boys would naturally be best friends if they are spaced close together.

But that's just a whimsical thought and a baby of whichever sex God sends us will be welcome with open arms.

I just saw your sweet announcement about the new baby and I'm so happy for you. We had 6 children and our first two and the last two are spaced 19 months apart. I found it very easy to care for two children that close in age. The older one was very pleased with her new sibling and they were on the same schedule of naps etc. after a short time.

I'm sorry that your family was not thrilled with your announcement but your blogger family is very happy for you !

Anna,Congratulations! Your children's birth months must be about what mine are: December and August! My daughter's birthday is August 14 and mine is the 24th! My son's is Dec. 20.What a wonderful thing, and Shira is blessed, too! I will pray for you and your baby!Blessings,WendyFaith's Firm Foundation

Many congratulations on your pregnancy. I am a catholic mother of five adult children and Grandmother, since March to a beautiful grandson. The most precious gift you can give your child is a sibling. I was fortunate to not have to work outside the home for eleven years when my children were small and then i only worked one morning a week (as a dentist)when my youngest was three. My time as a full time mother was the happiest of my life. Two of my children went to playgroup two mornings a week from age three, the other three went to no childcare outside the home until they started school at age 5. For the vast majority of that time I had no help in the house and greatly enjoyed playing with my children, but very rarely achieved tidiness. I like your blogs about prayer and I pray for God's blessings on your growing family

Thank you for visiting

Domestic Felicity is the journey of one woman who loves her family and home and seeks to live a simple, peaceful, and purposeful life. It is also a record of my daily experiences and challenges and everything I'm learning as I walk along this path. If you wish to ask or comment about something but want to do it in private, you are welcome to email me.

A little bit about me

I'm a Jewish woman, a wife, a mother, a homemaker. I love everything that has to do with home and family, and enjoy the solitude of my quiet corner, which is located in one of the most beautiful areas of Israel. Our lives are simple, but very full, busy and satisfying. I'm passionate about writing, hand crafts, healthy food, home education and the human connection to land and nature.